Author: Nate Logsdon

Philip and Dominic Rabalais are a electronic music team that has no parallel in Iowa. They’ve been playing music together for years, starting with the hard garage rock band Spooky Nights, taking an electronic turn in the wild mash-up DJ project Porno Galactica, and morphing into the life-alteringly joyful synth-punk powerhouse Utopia Park.

They are two of my best friends; we’ve toured the country many times over and will continue to do so for years to come. Our collaborations have allowed me to witness the abiding love they have for one another, a love that is both emotionally stirring and musically rich.

The brothers continue on as Utopia Park, but they also are devoting lots of time and energy to newer bands that are getting a ton of traction. Philip is the producer of the stellar pop duo Trouble Lights, creating beats that can really stand up to any electronic music coming out of anywhere today. And Dominic is Little Ruckus, a songwriting, beat-making, lawbreaking dance instructor who is also kind of a motivational speaker for super-positive punks.

Dominic recently had the word “Philip” tattooed over his heart. Philip’s remix of this Little Ruckus track definitely signals that the love and respect is mutual.

These men have matured into two of the most gifted artists in Iowa, and they’ve done it the way they’ve always done everything: together.